The dowry ceremony in Murang’a began smoothly, with John prepared for the occasion, thinking everything was under control.
He had already spent Ksh 40,000 to cover costs for food, tents, chairs, and a sound system, and had set aside an additional Ksh 60,000 for the bride price, as previously agreed upon by both families.
However, things took a dramatic turn when extra demands started piling up.
Since John had impregnated his fiancée, the elders demanded he add Ksh 20,000 to the bride price as a penalty.
To make matters worse, John had mistakenly taken a wrong path and ended up at the wrong homestead.
This detour resulted in another fine, this time Ksh 10,000, for his failure to arrive at the correct house.
His problems didn’t end there—he was also fined Ksh 5,000 for arriving late, as the elders claimed they had grown tired of waiting for him.
As the ceremony progressed, twelve women were brought before John, each covered in lesos from head to toe, making it impossible for him to identify his fiancée.
The elders instructed him to pick out his bride, but unfortunately, John pointed to the wrong woman. This error cost him another Ksh 20,000.
The final straw came when the elders demanded a staggering Ksh 500,000 as compensation for the girl’s upbringing and education.
Furious and feeling overwhelmed by the mounting demands, John excused himself, claiming he needed to use the latrine.
Instead of returning, he switched off his phone and was last seen boarding a matatu bound for Nairobi’s Central Business District.
The event left both families in shock as John disappeared without a trace, abandoning the dowry ceremony altogether.
